What lies beneath: Keep your furry friend safe this winter

• After you return home from walks, consider wiping down your dog's feet and legs, advises Dr. Jones. That's because tiny ice cubes can form in the sensitive spaces between his toes and toe-pads, even in crevices under his belly -- and this can trigger frostbite. Additionally, the rock salt many cities sprinkle on their sidewalks and roads to melt the snow can irritate your dog's sensitive foot pads, causing painful cracks, he says. Plus, many pups, uncomfortable being coated in salt, often take to licking it off themselves -- and this ingestion can cause vomiting, diarrhea -- or in the case of some other chemicals like antifreeze, possible poisoning.

• Limit off-leash time. Canines can lose their scent in the snow, an event which can cause them to become easily lost, explains Dr. Jones. In fact, more dogs are reported lost in the winter than any other time of the year. So, to ensure the safety of your furry friend, don't let him off the leash during walks (unless you are in a fenced in area) and make sure he has a name tag on his collar that features proper identification, should he later lose his way.

• Even "outside" dogs need protection. When the mercury dips its easy to assume your dog's fur will sufficiently keep him warm. But even if your dog resides outdoors he'll need some extra TLC in cold temperatures. Fill his doghouse with warm, dry bedding material like straw, to ward off chills, and make sure his shelter and water and food bowls are out of the path of the wind, says Dr. Brum. Still, sometimes the temperature drops so low that its actually safer for all pets to be inside. Animals should be brought indoors once the wind chill reaches 0 degrees Fahrenheit, suggests Dr. Jones.

For other smart pet advice, read our helpful reports on the best cat and dog foods, kitty litter and  flea control.